Tough economic times are creating a double whammy for social service groups like Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas – an increase in demand for services, and a decrease in donations.

The food pantry has been one of the hardest hit, according to officials from the agency. Demand increased 35 percent from August 2008 to February 2009 compared to the same period one year earlier. Last February alone, demand increased 55 percent from 2008 levels.

"So many people have lost their jobs, lost their homes, people who never thought they’d be in a situation of needing help from a social service agency, but they are, and that’s what we’re here for, we’re here to help," Janis Dworkis, Jewish Family Service coordinator of marketing and communications, said.

The problems at Jewish Family Service are only an example of the increased strain on social services not only in North Texas, but also across the country.
Traditionally, summer months are the greatest for food pantry demand because children that normally take part in free or reduced lunch programs are home from school and donations are usually at their lowest levels. With demand already up, agencies are bracing themselves for what’s to come later this year.

As a member agency of the North Texas Food Bank, Jewish Family Service can get many items from at bulk or reduced rates, but it also relies on the charity of individuals to fill the rest of the need.

Monetary donations are the most effective because the organization can use its purchasing power to buy large quantities of food and make a dollar go further. According to the North Texas Food Bank, every dollar donated by individuals represents $8 in purchasing power.

"We can get more bang for the buck because we can buy more cheaply than what people can buy in the stores," said Janine Pulman, Jewish Family Service’s director of volunteers.

For individuals who wish to donate food items, the most desperately needed items are canned tuna fish and chili, cold cereal and complete "meal in a box" products like Hamburger Helper and Rice-A-Roni.

Jewish Family Service has also seen an increase in demand for its career and employment service department. They’ve increased networking groups 400 percent. Career counseling services requests have gone up, and the job search resource center, which provides computers, copy machines, phones and other equipment to help people find work, is also very busy with individuals trying to find work. Individual and family counseling services have also seen an increase in demand.

One thing not short in supply are volunteers. Pulman said the number of people who have come to volunteer at the organization has increased over the past several months.

"People who are unemployed who would like to have something to do in the interim while they’re looking for work, as well as people who know help is needed and want to give back," are the source of the increased volunteers, she said.

Food donations can be dropped off at Jewish Family Service. Financial donations can be made online, and to volunteer, e-mail Janine Pulman.